Smith orients the reader of Arguing with Lacan by stating five positions as guides to his interpretation of Lacan and ego psychology. These orienting remarks are both guides and caveats regarding usage.

• 1Lacan's ego refers to "efforts to perpetuate the imaginary ego ideal," while Smith, as a part of the American school, suggests that living up to one's ego ideal follows a "successful traverse of the oedipal crisis." He invites the reader to inquire which idea helps order data better.

• 2Differences between Lacan and the ego psychologists are a matter of emphasis.